2002–03 WHL season

2002–03 CHL season
2002–03 CHL season
League	Canadian Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Teams	55
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals champions	Kitchener Rangers (OHL) (2nd title)
Runners-up	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)

2002–03 WHL season
2002–03 WHL season
League	Western Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Teams	19
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy	Kelowna Rockets (1)
Season MVP	Josh Harding (Regina Pats)
Top scorer	Erik Christensen (Kamloops Blazers)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Jesse Schultz (Rockets)
Finals champions	Kelowna Rockets (1)
Runners-up	Red Deer Rebels
WHL seasons
	2001–02 2003–04

The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the President's Cup as playoff champion, both for the first time. The Rockets thus earned a berth in the 2003 Memorial Cup tournament.

Regular season

Map of WHL, 2001–02 to 2002–03

190km
118miles

Wheat Kings

Pats

Warriors

Raiders

Blades

Broncos

Tigers

Hurricanes

Rebels

Hitmen

Ice

Chiefs

Americans

Rockets

Blazers

Thunderbirds

Winter Hawks

Cougars

Giants

East Division

Central Division

BC Division

US Division

Final standings

Eastern Conference

East Division
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	x – Brandon Wheat Kings	72	43	17	9	3	258	187	98
2	x – Moose Jaw Warriors	72	36	22	11	3	266	208	86
3	x – Saskatoon Blades	72	40	27	5	0	234	205	85
4	x – Regina Pats	72	25	28	14	5	171	217	69
5	Prince Albert Raiders	72	27	37	3	5	185	258	62

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
x – qualified for playoffs

Central Division
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	x – Red Deer Rebels	72	50	17	3	2	271	160	105
2	x – Swift Current Broncos	72	38	24	7	3	240	215	86
3	x – Medicine Hat Tigers	72	29	34	2	7	278	314	67
4	x – Calgary Hitmen	72	27	36	7	2	240	260	63
5	Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	28	39	2	3	236	303	61

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
x – qualified for playoffs

Western Conference

B.C. Division
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	x – Kelowna Rockets	72	51	14	6	1	311	164	109
2	x – Kamloops Blazers	72	39	27	5	1	261	222	84
3	x – Kootenay Ice	72	36	25	6	5	234	202	83
4	x – Vancouver Giants	72	26	37	5	4	217	292	61
5	x – Prince George Cougars	72	26	41	3	2	257	317	57

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
x – qualified for playoffs
Notes:

↑ Prince George crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs

U.S. Division
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	x – Seattle Thunderbirds	72	44	22	3	3	280	224	94
2	x – Spokane Chiefs	72	26	36	6	4	216	261	62
3	x – Portland Winter Hawks	72	19	40	8	5	192	243	51
4	Tri-City Americans	72	20	44	3	5	240	335	48

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
x – qualified for playoffs

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Erik Christensen	Kamloops Blazers	67	54	54	108	60
Jesse Schultz	Kelowna Rockets	72	53	51	104	47
Jeremy Jackson	Lethbridge Hurricanes	65	44	58	102	83
Matt Ellison	Red Deer Rebels	72	40	56	96	80
Chris St. Jaques	Medicine Hat Tigers	70	31	65	96	78
Brooks Laich	Seattle Thunderbirds	60	41	53	94	65
Jeremy Williams	Swift Current Broncos	72	41	52	93	117
Dylan Stanley	Tri-City Americans	72	34	59	93	60
David Bararuk	Moose Jaw Warriors	66	29	64	93	44
Nigel Dawes	Kootenay Ice	72	47	45	92	54

Goaltending leaders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	Team	GP	Min	W	L	T	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Kelly Guard	Kelowna Rockets	53	3018	39	10	3	97	6	.911	1.93
Geoff McIntosh	Brandon Wheat Kings	23	1337	12	6	4	46	2	.914	2.06
Cam Ward	Red Deer Rebels	57	3367	40	13	2	118	5	.920	2.10
Jeff Glass	Kootenay Ice	35	1884	15	16	2	77	4	.909	2.45
Blake Grenier	Moose Jaw Warriors	41	2356	23	8	8	100	5	.911	2.55

2003 WHL Playoffs

Conference Quarter-finals

Conference Semi-finals

Conference Finals

WHL Championship

E1

Brandon

4

E4

Regina

1

C1

Red Deer

4

C3

Medicine Hat

3

E2

Moose Jaw

4

E3

Saskatoon

2

E1

Brandon

1

Eastern

C1

Red Deer

4

C1

Red Deer

4

C4

Calgary

1

E1

Brandon

4

E2

Moose Jaw

3

C2

Swift Current

0

C3

Medicine Hat

4

C1

Red Deer

2

B1

Kelowna

4

B1

Kelowna

4

B4

Vancouver

0

B1

Kelowna

4

U2

Spokane

0

B2

Kamloops

2

B3

Kootenay

4

B1

Kelowna

4

Western

U1

Seattle

1

U1

Seattle

4

B5

Prince George

1

U1

Seattle

4

B3

Kootenay

1

U2

Spokane

4

U3

Portland

3

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Brandon vs. Regina
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Regina 1	3 Brandon
March 22	Regina 2	1 Brandon	OT
March 25	Brandon 3	1 Regina
March 26	Brandon 2	1 Regina	OT
March 28	Regina 2	4 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–1

Moose Jaw vs. Saskatoon
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Saskatoon 3	0 Moose Jaw
March 22	Saskatoon 4	5 Moose Jaw
March 25	Moose Jaw 3	5 Saskatoon
March 26	Moose Jaw 3	2 Saskatoon	OT
March 29	Saskatoon 1	3 Moose Jaw
March 31	Moose Jaw 5	3 Saskatoon
Moose Jaw wins series 4–2

Red Deer vs. Calgary
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Calgary 0	2 Red Deer
March 22	Calgary 2	3 Red Deer
March 25	Red Deer 4	2 Calgary
March 26	Red Deer 1	2 Calgary
March 29	Calgary 3	4 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1

Swift Current vs. Medicine Hat
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Medicine Hat 3	2 Swift Current	OT
March 22	Medicine Hat 4	2 Swift Current
March 25	Swift Current 3	6 Medicine Hat
March 26	Swift Current 1	7 Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat wins series 4–0

Western Conference

Kelowna vs. Vancouver
Date	Away	Home
March 22	Vancouver 0	10 Kelowna
March 23	Vancouver 3	4 Kelowna	2OT
March 26	Kelowna 2	0 Vancouver
March 27	Kelowna 8	2 Vancouver
Kelowna wins series 4–0

Kamloops vs. Kootenay
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Kootenay 2	1 Kamloops	OT
March 22	Kootenay 0	1 Kamloops
March 25	Kamloops 2	3 Kootenay	4OT
March 26	Kamloops 1	4 Kootenay
March 29	Kootenay 6	7 Kamloops
March 31	Kamloops 1	2 Kootenay	2OT
Kootenay wins series 4–2

Seattle vs. Prince George
Date	Away	Home
March 22	Prince George 1	4 Seattle
March 23	Prince George 3	7 Seattle
March 26	Seattle 2	4 Prince George
March 27	Seattle 3	1 Prince George
March 29	Prince George 3	4 Seattle
Seattle wins series 4–1

Spokane vs. Portland
Date	Away	Home
March 21	Spokane 2	4 Portland
March 23	Spokane 1	3 Portland
March 26	Portland 3	4 Spokane	OT
March 28	Portland 2	1 Spokane	2OT
March 29	Portland 3	8 Spokane
March 31	Spokane 3	2 Portland	OT
April 2	Portland 2	4 Spokane
Spokane wins series 4–3

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

Red Deer vs. Medicine Hat
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Medicine Hat 2	6 Red Deer
April 5	Medicine Hat 0	3 Red Deer
April 8	Red Deer 3	4 Medicine Hat
April 9	Red Deer 3	6 Medicine Hat
April 11	Medicine Hat 2	4 Red Deer
April 13	Red Deer 2	3 Medicine Hat	2OT
April 15	Medicine Hat 1	5 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–3

Brandon vs. Moose Jaw
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Brandon 2	3 Moose Jaw
April 5	Brandon 2	1 Moose Jaw
April 9	Moose Jaw 5	3 Brandon
April 11	Moose Jaw 1	4 Brandon
April 12	Moose Jaw 1	2 Brandon
April 14	Brandon 6	7 Moose Jaw	OT
April 16	Moose Jaw 3	7 Brandon
Brandon wins series 4–3

Western Conference

Kelowna vs. Spokane
Date	Away	Home
April 4	Spokane 1	6 Kelowna
April 5	Spokane 1	5 Kelowna
April 9	Kelowna 4	1 Spokane
April 11	Kelowna 4	3 Spokane	OT
Kelowna wins series 4–0

Seattle vs. Kootenay
Date	Away	Home
April 5	Kootenay 2	4 Seattle
April 7	Kootenay 0	4 Seattle
April 9	Seattle 5	0 Kootenay
April 10	Seattle 1	2 Kootenay	2OT
April 12	Kootenay 1	2 Seattle	OT
Seattle wins series 4–1

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Red Deer vs. Brandon
Date	Away	Home
April 18	Brandon 1	5 Red Deer
April 19	Brandon 0	2 Red Deer
April 22	Red Deer 5	1 Brandon
April 23	Red Deer 1	2 Brandon
April 25	Brandon 1	3 Red Deer
Red Deer wins series 4–1

Kelowna vs. Seattle
Date	Away	Home
April 18	Seattle 4	5 Kelowna
April 19	Seattle 3	6 Kelowna
April 22	Kelowna 2	3 Seattle	2OT
April 23	Kelowna 4	0 Seattle
April 25	Seattle 2	4 Kelowna
Kelowna wins series 4–1

WHL Championship

Kelowna vs. Red Deer
Date	Away	Home
May 2	Red Deer 1	5 Kelowna
May 3	Red Deer 2	5 Kelowna
May 5	Kelowna 2	6 Red Deer
May 6	Kelowna 1	2 Red Deer
May 8	Red Deer 2	5 Kelowna
May 10	Kelowna 2	0 Red Deer
Kelowna wins series 4–2

All-Star game

All-Star festivities included a round robin between all-star squads from the three CHL leagues. On November 12, the WHL Eastern All-Stars defeated the QMJHL Lebel All-Stars 5–2 at Hull, Quebec before a crowd of 2,194. Then, on November 19, the WHL Western All-Stars defeated the OHL Eastern All-Stars 7–3 at Vancouver, British Columbia before a crowd of 7,046. With the victories, the WHL won the Hershey Cup as champion of the round robin format all-star tournament.

WHL awards

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (Player of the Year): Josh Harding, Regina Pats

Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Brett Dickie, Brandon Wheat Kings

Scholastic Team of the Year: Prince Albert Raiders

Bob Clarke Trophy (Top scorer): Erik Christensen, Kamloops Blazers

Brad Hornung Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Boyd Gordon, Red Deer Rebels

Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defenseman): Jeff Woywitka, Red Deer Rebels

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Matt Ellison, Red Deer Rebels

Del Wilson Trophy (Top Goaltender): Josh Harding, Regina Pats

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets

Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy (Executive of the Year): Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets

Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy (Best regular season record): Kelowna Rockets

Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy (Top Official): Steve Kozari

St. Clair Group Trophy (Marketing/Public Relations Award): Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets, and Reid Pederson, Regina Pats

Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year): Ryan Craig, Brandon Wheat Kings

WHL Plus-Minus Award: Matthew Spiller, Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL Playoff Most Valuable Player: Jesse Schultz, Kelowna Rockets

All-Star teams

Eastern Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Josh Harding	Regina Pats	Cam Ward	Red Deer Rebels
Defense	Jeff Woywitka	Red Deer Rebels	Stephen Mann	Saskatoon Blades
Defense	Ian White	Swift Current Broncos	Nathan Paetsch	Moose Jaw Warriors
Forward	Ryan Craig	Brandon Wheat Kings	Jeremy Jackson	Lethbridge Hurricanes
	Jordin Tootoo	Brandon Wheat Kings	David Bararuk	Moose Jaw Warriors
	Boyd Gordon	Red Deer Rebels	Matt Ellison	Red Deer Rebels
Western Conference
	First Team		Second Team
Goal	Kelly Guard	Kelowna Rockets	Billy Thompson	Prince George Cougars
Defense	Tomas Slovak	Kelowna Rockets	Gerard Dicaire	Kootenay Ice
Defense	Tomas Mojzis	Seattle Thunderbirds	Josh Gorges	Kelowna Rockets
Forward	Erik Christensen	Kamloops Blazers	Nigel Dawes	Kootenay Ice
	Jesse Schultz	Kelowna Rockets	Kiel McLeod	Kelowna Rockets
	Brooks Laich	Seattle Thunderbirds	Adam Courchaine	Vancouver Giants

source: Western Hockey League press release

2003 Bantam draft

List of first round picks in the bantam draft.

#	Player	Nationality	WHL Team
1	Jonathan Toews (C)	Canada	Tri-City Americans
2	Ben Maxwell (C)	Canada	Kootenay Ice (via Lethbridge)
3	Zach Hamill (C)	Canada	Everett Silvertips
4	Ryan de Pape (RW)	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders
5	Sasha Golin (RW)	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks
6	Tyler Swystun (C)	Canada	Prince George Cougars
7	Jason Reese (LW)	United States	Vancouver Giants
8	Michael Reich (C)	Canada	Spokane Chiefs
9	Keegan Dansereau (RW)	Canada	Calgary Hitmen
10	Trevor Glass (D)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers
11	Logan Pyett (D)	Canada	Regina Pats
12	Todd Panchyson (D)	Canada	Kootenay Ice
13	Victor Bartley (D)	Canada	Kamloops Blazers
14	Justin McCrae (C)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades
15	Brennan Wray (C)	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors
16	Kyle Bortis (LW)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos
17	George Holloway (C)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds
18	Mike Cann (D)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings
19	Matthew Cline (C)	Canada	Red Deer Rebels
20	Craig Cuthbert (C)	Canada	Kelowna Rockets

References

2005–06 WHL Guide

Preceded by

2001–02 WHL season

WHL seasons

Succeeded by

2003–04 WHL season

[table_note_PRI0.48619853215581-1] Prince George crosses over into U.S. Division playoffs

2002–03 WHL season

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Scoring leaders

Goaltending leaders

2003 WHL Playoffs

Conference quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

WHL Championship

All-Star game

WHL awards

All-Star teams

2003 Bantam draft

See also

References